elama + Inessive

Living in (Elama + Inessive)

Level 1

Say where you live with elama and the inessive -s: Ma elan Tallinnas. (I live in Tallinn.)

How It Works

The forms of elama

  • ma elan, sa elad, ta elab
  • me elame, te elate, nad elavad

Kus sa elad? (Where do you live?) The answer uses an "at" case, because living means being somewhere, not going there.

Most places: -s

Most towns and countries use the inessive -s: Tallinnas, Tartus, Eestis, Soomes, Ameerikas. So do buildings and homes: majas (in a house), korteris (in an apartment).

Some places: -l

Some places use the adessive -l. There is no single rule. Estonians follow local custom, so learn the ending together with the place name:

  • country names ending in -maa: Saksamaal (in Germany), Venemaal (in Russia), Inglismaal (in England)
  • the big islands: Saaremaal, Hiiumaal
  • some towns: Türil (in Türi), but Paides (in Paide)
  • maal (in the countryside)
  • streets and floors: Pikal tänaval (on Pikk Street), teisel korrusel (on the second floor)

These are the outer cases from Inside vs On and At. More words of this kind are in Places That Take -l.

Not a "to" case. Keep the "at" form after elama, even when you have just moved: Nüüd ma elan Tartus. (Now I live in Tartu.) The "to" form Tartusse goes with verbs of movement: Ma kolin Tartusse. (I am moving to Tartu.)

Examples (6)

  1. Ma elan Tallinnas.

    I live in Tallinn.

  2. Nad elavad Eestis.

    They live in Estonia.

  3. Ta elab Saaremaal.

    She lives on Saaremaa.

    Saaremaa takes -l, like other names ending in -maa.

  4. Kus sa elad?

    Where do you live?

  5. Me elame maal.

    We live in the countryside.

    maal, with -l, means in the countryside.

  6. Minu vanemad elavad Saksamaal.

    My parents live in Germany.

    Saksamaa is a -maa name, so it takes -l.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving the place name in its basic form.

    Ma elan Tallinn.
    Ma elan Tallinnas.

    The place needs a case ending. Tallinn alone is only the dictionary form.

  • Using -s with a place that takes -l.

    Ta elab Saaremaas.
    Ta elab Saaremaal.

    Saaremaa and country names ending in -maa take the -l cases.

  • Using the "to" case after elama.

    Ma elan Tartusse.
    Ma elan Tartus.

    Tartusse means to Tartu and goes with verbs of movement. elama says where you are, so it needs Tartus.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

elama + InessiveLevel 1Living in (Elama + Inessive)

Learn This First

elama takes the inessive for towns and countries.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

elama